Adventure
Travel Group.This
company, started by a couple of seasoned tour guides,
provides a more intimate travel experience and their tours
are a very good value. Groups are limited to 14 people max, they
stay in smaller, more classic inns (2-4 stars) and the owners
are the main guides. An added (and unusual!) perk: They will
cater to couples where one is cycling and the other is just "coming
along for the ride". Companions – Many
of their trips are setup for people that are serious about cycling
(Giro d'Italia, Mt. Ventoux), so you are getting a somewhat more
fit crowd. A selection of "hot new" tour destinations
(Croatia, Argentina) adds to a hipper vibe, too. Rider
Reviews

Butterfield & Robinson.If
you want to stay at the most luxurious accommodations, eat the
best food, and be catered-to every step of the way, this is the
company for you. Oh yeah, we forgot to mention: money is no object,
right? Yes, you’re paying more, but with B & R you are getting “The
Ritz” in level of quality of service and accommodations. However, they balance every trip with home-hosted meals ... in places like Tuscany and Vietnam this kind of experience will be more memorable than any top-tier restaurant. That said, their new "Bistro" level tours, introduced in 2012, as well as new self guided options, offer a great alternative for riders looking for a lower price point. Companions – Get
ready to meet 45-year-old heart surgeons and their wives
(or husbands!). The typical client is a doctor, lawyer or business
owner. No problem going single, but you do
have to pay for a single supplement if going it alone. The group
won’t be partying it up each night, but you’ll have
your fill of foie gras, truffles and fine wine.Rider
Reviews

Backroads. This company is arguably the largest with over 300 biking, hiking, multisport and cultural immersion trips available in 44 countries. But that doesn't mean that service is compromised. In fact, Backroads guides are trained to be extremely accommodating. And Backroads can be a good value: the trips are about 25% less than B & R, and if you choose the Premiere Inns option, you will often stay in the same accommodations. A nice feature is that because you choose from multiple levels of accommodation options, you get a selection of prices to choose from. The "Casual Inns" tours stay at 3-4 star inns, with "Premiere Inns" jumping to 4-5 stars. There are also a wide variety of family-oriented and singles trips. Backroads clients are slightly younger, and more likely to have some experience with adventure travel. The typical client is a 45-year-old executive at a Fortune 500. There are always some strong riders on a Backroads trip, so you'll have company if you are planning on doing the supplemental longer routes. Going single is encouraged, and you don’t have to pay extra if you are willing to share a room. Backroads attracts guests who enjoy camaraderie so night time socializing is pretty good with this group. Rider
Reviews

Bike and the Like - This company provides guided tours in both the U.S., Holland and Germany. You will get hands-on service, as the trips are personally hosted by an American couple that has led over 130 tours in the past 20 years. Their keep their prices down (way down!) in Europe by providing barge trips so your accomodations don't change every night. You will still ride a hearty 40 miles a day, unlike many barge trips that provide only minimal riding. Touring in the U.S. is also a great way to save money, especially with current exchange rates, and these guys are experts in California (Pacific Coast/Napa), and the Northeastern Seaboard. Awards include "Voted Best by Bicycling Magazine" (Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket) and "Bicycling Magazine 15 Bike Trips We Love" (C & O Canal: Along the Potomac River). Rider
Reviews

Bike Switzerland is Switzerland's premier bicycle tour company. Based in Geneva, and with a staff made up of educators living in Switzerland, this operator is devoted to intercultural exchange and cycling. If you are interested in biking this region, Bike Switzerland has an option for you, whether luxury or budget, beginner or hard-core. Accomodations are 3- and 4- star hotels (in our experience, equivelent to 4- and 5- star in other countries). Guided tours include a variety of cultural experiences: wine-tasting, cheese making, breakfast on a farm, mountain hikes and village festivals. The value-oriented self-guided option includes hands on service with cell phones and GPS guidance. On the heartier rides, there are options of 100 kilometer days and 1000 meter climbs with additional bonus miles (!). Non-riding spouses and partners, and those looking for easier mileage are welcome and are provided with train transportation options allowing them to explore the region. This company is willing to be very flexible and ensures that you will have a comprehensive experience of biking in Switzerland.

BikeToursDirect is a clearing-house for nearly 75 bicycle tour operators in Europe and around the world. They offer nearly 300 routes in 60 countries. We are big fans of this type of travel, especially since tours with regional companies are often 50-70 percent less than those offered by larger U.S. operators, and many offer the opportunity to ride with multi-national groups. Clients can contact BikeToursDirect for tour advice and planning or use the web site’s various search tools to find tours that match their interests, budgets and abilities. BikeToursDirect takes care of the complete booking and payment process. Founder Jim Johnson created this company based on his passion for bike touring in Europe while not wanting to pay the high prices charged by many American tour operators. He found he could enjoy the same experience at a fraction of the cost. Rider
Reviews

Blue
Marble. Willing
to take on a little more responsibility to save a couple of
sheckles? If so, this is the group for you. There is no van
support, but they get your luggage transported for you almost every
day. However, there will be several days in the week where
you must use panniers (saddle bags) to transport one day’s
worth of clothing and toiletries. While most companies provide
two group leaders (one to drive the support van, and one to
bike with the group), this company just provides one. In many
ways, this type of independence can provide a more rewarding
trip and build camaraderie among the group. The 3-star accommodations
are still quite nice (although you may find yourself at a one
or two star through part of the trip), and food and wine are
given high priority.

Companions – This
is where you will find the youngest clientele of any of the groups.
The typical rider is a 32-year-old executive at Google. Blue Marble
does a lot of advertising at universities, so many clients have
just graduated from law school or an MBA program. Going single
is encouraged, and you don’t have to pay a supplement if
willing to share a room. Fun in the evening is a high priority
with Blue Marble.

Breaking Away Bicycle Tours - This operator, specilizing in trips for the intermediate - advanced rider, is incredibly flexible. They offer RacePak trips where you will ride the great routes of the Tour
de France & the Giro D’Italia the same day as the racers and then you will view the
competition later in the day. But they also provide “Best of Itineraries” for the
cyclist who wants to ride many of these same historic routes but
doesn't care as much about viewing the racing action, experiencing a more relaxed daily schedule. Each day you can choose from a variety of routes and difficulties, and they encourage non-riding spouses and partners to join the trip. Self guided and customized trips are also available. Lodging is 3-4 star and although the provide the same services and are US-based (making pre-trip planning easier), the price is much more reasonable than the big international operators. Rider
Reviews

Ciclismo
Classico. No doubt
about it, if you want to go to Italy, you’ve got to look
into Ciclismo Classico. Their level of expertise in all-things-Italian
is unsurpassed, reflected in the more than 30 trips that they
offer. Each trip includes lots of activities, and they even
offer specialty trips that focus on things such as yoga and
photography. In the past couple of years they have added additional
countries, including a Tour de France trip. Companions – The
main thing that Ciclismo Classico clients have in common is an
interest in experiencing Italy to the fullest. That's a passion
that crosses age, income and riding ability lines. Many of their
routes are surprisingly long, so some of your companions are strong
bicyclists, but there is no shame in using the SAG van, either.
Night time socializing holds a high priority in Italy (food, wine
and conversation are the national pastimes), so even though your
companions may not have planned to, there will be plenty of fun
nighttime activities. Going single is encouraged, and you don’t
have to pay a supplement if willing to share a room. Rider
Reviews

CycleItalia. Their
motto is "Pedala Forte, Mangia Bene" which
translates to "pedal hard, eat well". And
that basically sums it up. The company is owned
and run (VERY hands-on) by two ex-racers, and their trips are
anything but wimpy. The shorter Tasting Serives trips (7 days)
are an
average of 70km, and the longer Classic Road and Legendary Climb trips average
100km as well as climbs, plenty of climbs. However, CycleItalia
take s food and wine just as seriously. The owner-guides are
experts in all-things-Italian and as the name suggests, this
it the only country they tour in. However, they have many options.
Companions - It is interesting that a company that advertises
some of their rides as having daily climbs of 5-9,000 feet, also advertises the
fact that they encourage couples that may have different riding abilities. In
other words, they won't make you feel bad if you are in the SAG
van for part of the ride, in
fact, they providing some tours that cater to non-riding
spouses.
However, with the Classic Road and Legendery Climb series, you
can be sure that the majority of your traveling companions will
be very very strong riders. The emphasis on food and wine ensures
that there will be plenty of fun in the evenings. According to
our sources ... sometimes at lunch, too! . Rider
Reviews

Cyclomundo - France-based Cyclomundo offers a wide array of self-guided, guided, and customized cycling vacations in virtually all regions of France, as well as Spain, Italy and Switzerland. Utilizing local experts who have a love and passion for sharing their cultural, regional, historical, and gastronomical heritage, Cyclomundo's philosophy firmly supports sustainable development. A nice feature is that Cyclomundo specializes in creating “a la carte” customized vacations tailor-made to fulfill your special interests. Their website has a feauture called "Build your own trip" where you tell them the region, desired daily mileage, and accomodation type, and they will put a trip together for you. Good luck getting that sort of value-priced flexibility from the big dogs! Rider
Reviews

Deluxe Cycle Tours This UK based company provides high-end tours in France and Spain, while still giving you a good "bang for your buck". Their site has a very helpful chart comparing them to the other luxury operators that shows that they do provide the same service for a lower price (especially if you are paying in pounds, as the dollar conversion does erode some of the savings). They tour some of our favorite regions, those that tend to be a little easier for the beginner and low-intermediate rider (Provence, Loire Valley, Camino de Santiago). Everything is included in the price (bike rental, helmets, wine at dinner), so this, along with the reasonably short 30 miles a day is a plus for the first-time tour rider. We also like that they are UK based, so if you are American, most of your riding companions will provide additional cultural diversity. Rider
Reviews

Digngo This company provides high-end luxury tours throughout France. They are experts in each area that they tour, and there are specialized excursions on each trip (balloon rides, winery visits, etc). There is a lot of personalized attention from the owner-operators, and the cuisine is very important, as they say on their site: whether you’re dining in a Michelin starred restaurant or eat at a local restaurant which turns out to be your most unforgettable meal, you will get to sample the region's most refined cuisine and its most rustic tradition. The tours are small by design (with a maximum of 14 guests) and they will also create specialized custom tours for families and other groups. Many of the reviews we have received are from guests that have travelled with them self-guided, but the hands-on attention is equivelent of the highest end travel companies (read: Butterfied or Abercrombie). Rider
Reviews

Discover France. A proven (15 years) operator, and definitely the leader in providing tours in France. They go to 11 different regions, more than anyone else. All listed rides are self guided, which we recomended highly to any seasoned traveler and rider. There are many reasons to consider self-guided travel, including: 1. Much less expensive (usually 35-50% less than guided!) 2. Flexible dates ... you can start on any date you like 3. More customization. You still get emergency assistance and transfer of bags, so it's not like you are riding with 30 pounds of gear and sleeping in tents. Personally, we do at least half of our bike tours self-guided because we like the flexibility. Also, if you want a guided tour, Discover France will create a custom guided trip for you if you put your own group together.Rider
Reviews

DuVine Cycling and Adventure Co. formerly DuVine Adventures) Want to stay in luxury accommodations and travel with a group that is slightly younger than the norm, but don't want to ride with gnarly club-rider types? If so, you should take a look at DuVine. They stay at many of the same places as Butterfield and Backroads, but this is an owner-run company that emphasizes personal service and keeps the group to a smaller, more intimate size. Companions - The owner is a young, fun-loving guy and that is reflected in the clientele which includes many 30- and 40-somethings (versus the average bike tour rider who is in their 50's and up). The emphasis is on having FUN. The miles average to a non-grueling 35, but like most other tour operators, DuVine offers extensions for riders that want additional mileage. Going single is encouraged, but you do have to pay for a single supplement if you want your own room. Rider
Reviews

Easy
Rider Tours . This company
has been providing tours "off the beaten path" for many years.
They specialize in Ireland, Portugal and Spain, as well as
New England and Canada. By offering tours in unusual
regions such as the Azores, and Portugal's Costa Azul, they
are able to keep their costs down. In addition, they
do provide certain amenities which other companies don't,
including wine at dinner and transportation to/from the airport
at selected times. (We
sure wish more companies would provide that!). The rides
are somewhat longer than with most companies (although there
are shorter options) and they provide a "Club Series" with
daily rides of 50-70+ miles. Rider
Reviews . easyridertours.com

Experience
Plus! This is the family-owned “Bed
and Breakfast” of the tour group companies, in operation since 1972. The founders each have PhD's, one in Geography and the other in Cultural History. While family-run, this operation provides a wide assortment of tour choices, and they focus on personalized service and a cultural experience. The food and accommodations are quite good, and the money they save from not having huge slick brochures gets passed on to you. An interesting and unique feature is that they use chalk arrows to mark the route, which allows riders to focus on the scenery, not the route sheets.Companions – Expect good conversation at dinner with an interesting, unpretentious group, but they won't be partying their brains out. Rider
Reviews

Far
and Away. Fascinating
places (Vietnam, Corsica, Slovenia), great prices, and a very
hands-on owner make this another stand-out company. Remember,
you save a lot of money when you go with a company that doesn't send
out full-color catalogs. We first learned
about them through our "rider reviews" section. They
have lots of repeat customers, which is a good sign, and makes
sense since this is a company that caters to a special type of traveler.
Most of their trips consist of longish (80-100km) days, and some
have a lot of climbs. Companions
- Far and Away customers are more adventurous travelers than the
typical rider that chooses B & R
or the other luxury companies. Most of the
lodging is 2 and 3 star, which makes sense in the countries that
they go to. It's not like you really want to ride from Aman resort
to Aman resort if you want to immerse yourself in the culture, right? Rider
Reviews

Freewheeling Adventures. Lots
of interesting adventures are available, including Iceland, Israel, Czech Republic,
Croatia, Japan, Canada and Mexico. Freewheeling goes to all the other, more common
regions (Italy, France, Spain), but we counted at least 12 destinations that NONE of the major
tour companies cover. They keep the group sizes small - usually less
than 12. This is refreshing, as many other companies are letting group
sizes creep up to 20. Also, they provide self-guided tours with a nice
twist. They call them privately-semi guided trips. There is still a guide
with extensive local knowledge that looks over the riders. We find this
refreshing, as we have had problems with other self-guided companies
not being there for us when we needed help. Freewheeling wins the contest
for "most website pictures of people having loads of fun".
With Freewheeling Adventures, the name pretty much sums it up. Rider
Reviews

Great Explorations. The owner of this boutique operation has been leading trips for over 25 years, so you are getting the best of both worlds: flexible high-end service combined with the knowledge accumulated from years of experience. They go to some unusual destinations such as Turkey, Morocco and Asia, but they provide tours in Italy and France, too. The rides (without optional extensions) are reasonably easy (25 - 40 miles). They stay in mostly 3-star hotels , which allows this company to provide good value. Meals are considered important ... you will likely eat at a Michelen-starred restauarant if there is one in the region. Rider
Reviews

IdleFast IdleFast's tours are designed for avid cyclists, offering travel programs at a challenging level, while maintaining a high level of luxury and personal coaching. Both domestic and international tours are available (among many other trips, you can decide between Austin, the Dolomites or Tuscany!), and many of their tours include the courses the pros conquer throughout the season. Imersion into the "day in the life" of a professional rider; experience the camaraderie, food, laughter, encouragement and triumph like the pros do.Rider
Reviews

Kara Mia.is another of the growing list of boutique companies, providing a more intimate travel experience by harnessing their local knowledge of the Italian regions that they cover (currently Piedmont, Tuscan, Umbria and the Dolomites). Groups are limited to 14 people max, and they
stay in traditional, non-touristy lodgings (3 stars and up). They also provides cooking and walking tours, and like many of these owner-run companies, you have a lot more flexibility if you have special requests, and they cater to novices and first-time riders. This is definitely a "kinder, gentler" active tour company. A testimonial from their site: "Kara is the real deal.A beautiful soul, she embodies the qualities you want in a tour guide warm, connective and sensible."Rider
Reviews

Outfitter Bicycle Tours has been family owned since 1996 and thrives from the community that has been fostered after many years of tours and specializes in Provence, Alps, Burgundy, the Dordogne, Pyrenees, and Tuscany (in reference to Europe). From difficult climbing adventures in the Alps to casual riding through beautiful countrysides such as Provence, offered cycling vacations satisfy ANY cyclist. Whether self guided or guided, the rider is in control with the ultimate flexibility and service as the staff motto is, "You are not on our schedule; we are on yours." Self guided tours can be scheduled according to the riders preferred dates while guided tours are small (limited to 15 guests) and personal.

Tripsite.com (Pack & Pedal Europe) -- Tripsite is your comprehensive marketplace for cycling holidays in Europe, Asia & beyond, showcasing hundreds of tours for the discerning cyclist, including bike and boat tours, bike tours, and multi adventure tours. Offering a diverse portfolio, there are tours to fit any budget, from luxury to value and tours to suit any interest including history, culture, and gastronomy. Tailored made tours are possible as well! Tripsite has been family owned and operated since 1999 and is renowned for their unsurpassed customer service and extensive knowledge of every tour they offer. Contact a member of the Tripsite team. Your perfect cycling vacation awaits! Rider
Reviews

SICICLANDO Active Holidays This tour company was created in 2000 by two friends passionate about biking and passionate about their homeland of Sicily. Guests can choose from self-guided routes or small group tours with van support. Tours are surprisingly affordable and they are flexible in catering to leisure, active, or avid cyclists. . Choose from Sicily, Sardenia, and most of the major Italian regions such as Tuscany, Piedmont, the Amalfi coast, etc. From their site: “Eat, drink, and cook with our friends...the Siciclando family. Explore Italy's ancient history, passionate lifestyle, and richness along the way. Be Italian with Siciclando! 38% return guest rate.” Rider
Reviews

Summerfeet operates in three of our favorite bike touring regions:: New England, Nova Scotia and New Zealand. They focus on giving you rare "behind the scenes" glimpses into these areas, with their expert guides providing activities and trips to out-of-the-way spots which are usually privy only to locals. There are a wide array of options, such as a a 3-day or 6-day Maine bicycling adventure, a 7-day Nova Scotia cycling trip or an extended 13-day New Zealand bike tour. As with many of the boutique operators, Summerfeet is willing to work with you on customizing the trip to fit your desires.Rider
Reviews

Trek
Travel Bike Tours. A
relative newcomer to the industry (they started business in
2001), Trek Travel does everything with an utmost level of
expertise. In many ways it is as if they have analyzed the
best aspects of the top companies, and incorporated these into
their tours. The guides are top notch, the two levels of pricing
accommodate a variety of budgets, and the large selection of tours
cover a wide range of rider levels. As they are the only
operator owned by a bike company, you can always be assured
that the bikes are top notch and in perfect condition. Companions – Hey,
even if he says "It's Not About the Bike", this is the
company that makes Lance's ride, so bikes and gear are front and
center here. In other word, don't expect to see lots of folks in
the SAG van. This is a pretty fit crowd. However, they do provide
a large range of ride types, some as short as 30 miles a day (and
some that include such challenges as Mt. Ventoux), so the large variety
of rides, as well as price levels, lead to a wide variety of clients. Rider
Reviews

Van
Gogh Tours. Another
family-owned “Bread and Breakfast”, like Experience
Plus, but an even better deal price-wise. How these guys can
provide great support and 3-4 star accommodations at such cheap
prices eludes us (although simpler brochures and the fact that
the owners lead the vast majority of the tours has a lot to
do with it). The self-guided tours where they provide baggage
transfer and lodging are even better deals. The only drawback
is they don’t have a huge variety of tour choices (about
10 spread through Italy, France, Holland, the U.S. and Austria).

Companions – Van
Gogh also offers lots of walking tours, and they don’t pile
on the mileage, so the clientele is a little older than with other
groups. And you’ve got to pay a supplement if you want to go
single. Rider
Reviews

VBT
Tours. You'll get a lot of
bang-for-your-buck with this tour group. The accommodations
(3-4 star) are very good, and the support (guides and extra
activities) is great. In addition, they have a wide variety
of trips to choose from. Their special airfare deals and add-ons
for pre- and post-trip accommodations are good values, and a way to save money on your entire trip.

Companions – Here
is where you’ll find the high-end bargain shoppers. Lots
of folks in education (school teachers and professors), as well
as your typical mix of lawyers and business types. Clients come
from all age groups. A VBT tour may include both 20-something college
students as well as some 70-something retirees. Going single is
encouraged, and you don’t have to pay a supplement if willing
to share a room. Evening socializing can be pretty good, as you’ll
have such an eclectic group of folks.

Like
the tours listed above, self-guided tours provide the bikes,
route sheets, baggage transfer, accommodations and most dinners
and breakfasts. The main difference is that they don't have a
trip leader or SAG van. This means that should you choose a self-guided
tour, you must be at least somewhat familiar with basic bike
repair, such as changing a flat tire or adjusting the seat. Self-guided
tours are ideal for the rider who has already taken a group tour,
and doesn't mind the idea that there won't be a "bail-out" van or a leader to
help with repairs. An additional perk, is that you can schedule the
trip to begin on any date that you want.

Randonnee
Tours. This
group also has good prices, and the extra
perk of letting you choose between "classic" accommodations
(3 and 4 star hotels and inns)
or B&B (bed and
breakfasts). The B &B option
is about 20% less expensive. A third "Luxe" option has been added, which allows riders who are looking for the freedom of independent riding combined with the luxury of 4 and 5 star hotels. A big plus
is that Randonnee is willing to work
with you on customizing your tour to
fit your needs, whether that means tacking
on (or taking off) days from the trip,
mileage, or additional areas to visit
in the region. Rider
Reviews

And
One That Can't be Categorized (SAG van and guide, but it's a
group effort)

Bicycle
Adventure Club. If you’re experiencing a little “sticker
shock” at the prices of a supported bike tour in Europe,
this might be a good alternative. Riding with these folks will
cost less than half the daily price of the average tour group
(about $100 a day for most of their tours). So what’s the
catch? First of all, this is a non-profit group, and volunteers
put together the tours. Second, you’ve got to bring your
own bike. Third, most trips are two weeks, versus the typical
one week that the other groups offer. BAC tours have van support,
although on some of them the participants have to share van-driving
duties. The biggest catch is that they don’t offer a huge
choice of trips, and you have to plan WAY in advance, because
many of the trips fill up quickly.

Companions
- With this group you’ll be riding with much more independent,
experienced cyclists. Expect to meet lots of teachers, small-business
owners and other self-sufficient types. Each tour varies so much
in quality level (some are 2-star, some 4-star), that the same is
true of the average participant.